June 7 Daily Briefing: Zoning discussion, where to get relief from the heat, movie night moved, and more

TGIF, everyone! You may have noticed the heat has arrived. And you may have seen that the final Movies in the Park event was planned for next Tuesday, June 11, at Downtown Park. Well, we’re here to give you early warning that because the first thing happened the second thing is being moved inside. The screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off planned for the park will now take place indoors at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. The event is still free and will screen at 7 p.m.  Make a note of it!  

🎶 Setting the mood: “Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl” by Chappell Roan

LEADING OFF

At first community meeting on zoning code update, dozens of residents lay out priorities, fears

Palm Springs is rolling out a comprehensive update to its zoning code, the first in more than three decades, aimed at modernizing regulations and addressing critical issues like climate change and housing needs. 

Driving the news: The initiative was kicked off Thursday evening with a community meeting at Demuth Community Center, drawing 50 residents who shared concerns about housing, climate resiliency, and open space.

• Check out the brief presentation materials here, and go to the city’s website here to learn more.

Top of mind: One of the most talked about topics was related to climate change.  Residents shared their fears of worsening climate change making the city unlivable in the future. 

Why it matters: It may not seem obvious at first, but the zoning code is one of the most direct ways the city can impact climate change. The zoning code could reduce or eliminate parking minimums to lessen the amount of the asphalt that leads to the urban heat island effect.

• Different zoning could also allow for workplaces and commercial zones to be closer or adjacent to residential zones, reducing vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition: Also emerging from the meeting was the tension between the desire to preserve open space, and the city’s need for more housing. By 2029, according to the city’s housing element of its General Plan, Palm Springs will need 2,557 new housing units.

What they’re saying: Raymond Mueller, who just moved to Palm Springs from San Jose, said open spaces, especially old golf courses, should be developed, noting, “Any community that wants to grow, wants to survive, has got to start planning for it.”

Next steps: An audit of the current zoning code will be conducted this fall to identify shortcomings and areas for improvement, followed by proposals for updated codes and continued public consultations, with a draft code coming sometime early next year.

Dive deeper with Kendall Balchan’s complete story here.

IN OTHER NEWS

• 🎓 Palm Springs High School seniors were celebrated during a graduation ceremony Tuesday evening. If you missed the event, you can relive it by checking out Jay Calderon’s great pictures. [The Desert Sun]
  
  
• 💲 Dollar Tree confirmed it acquired the rights to 170 of the 371 recently shuttered 99 Cents Only stores, including the one in Palm Springs. There’s no official confirmation that the Palm Springs store will reopen. [Fast Company]
  
  
• 📽️ Palm Springs International ShortFest revealed its forum lineup, participants, and the jury for Academy-Qualifying Student Shorts and Special Jury Awards. [KESQ]

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YOUR WEEKEND

ALL WEEKEND

• Big Gay BBQ today and Saturday in the Arenas District.
  
  
• Palm Springs Power Baseball today and Saturday at the Palm Springs Stadium.
  
  
• Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week all weekend at participating restaurants.
  
  
• “Baby: The Musical” all weekend at Revolution Stage Company.
  
  
• “Snow White: Theatre for Young Audiences” on Saturday and Sunday at Coachella Valley Repertory.

TODAY

• Hitchcock Retrospective: “Notorious” at the Camelot Theatre at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 7 p.m.
  
  
• Country Western Dancing at Dance Ranch Palm Springs at 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

• Friends of the Palm Springs Library Book Sale in the JC Frey Building at the Palm Springs Library at 10 a.m.
  
  
• Brothers of the Desert Members Monthly Meeting at The Center at 11 a.m.
  
  
• Piano Riot at Revolution Stage Company at 5 p.m.
  
  
• Dusty Strings Collective performance and open mic at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 5:30 p.m.
  
  
• Bingo with Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at one eleven bar at 6 p.m.

SUNDAY

• The Palm Springs Young Playwrights Festival at the Palm Springs Cultural Center at 12 p.m.
  
  
• Sunday Jams at Melvyn’s at 3:30 p.m.

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AND FINALLY …

Palm Springs is under an excessive heat warning until tonight, and summer hasn’t even officially started. It’s only going to get hotter, so it’s important to take note of city cooling centers. Here’s the info on the city’s three cooling centers:

• Demuth Community Center (3601 East Mesquite Ave.) open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. 
  
  
• James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center (480 West Tramview Road) open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  
  
• Palm Springs Public Library (300 South Sunrise Way) open Monday and Thursday, 10 a.m. –  6 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 am – 5 p.m.

Details: More information is available on the city’s website, and there’s also a directory of every cooling center in the county here.